Vehicle door check



Ian. 80, 1923. y

F. K. EASTMAN.

VEHICLEADOOR QHECK. msu ma. 2, i922.

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F. K. EASTMAN.

VEHICLE DOOR CHECK.

FILED JAN. 27. 1922- Z SHEETS-SHED '3.

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FLOYD K. EASTMAN, F EOKDMO,

VEHICLE noon CHECK'.

.' ilppliicatioi-iy filed Jennery 27, 1922. Serial No. 532,136:

To all 'zo/z om t may concern Y vBe 1t known that I, FLoYn lx. lhxs'rMAN, u `citizen of the United States. :ind u resident of' Kokomo, county of Howard, and State of indiana, have `invented a. certain newand useful Vehicle Door Check; und I do hereby declare that the following 1s a full, clear, and

`Iexact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The object of this inventionlis to furnish a practical and eiicient door check for vehicle doors, und onewhich is entirely con cealed when the door isclosed and does not extend in the` wey of people using the ve hicle when the door is open, and which not only checks the opening movement of the door but also withdraws into concealn'ient the door check as the door is closed.

To the foregoing' endV the invention consists broadly in mounting in the door casingrr oi' the body of the automobile, in n concealed imsitii'uo,V a casing, preferably of channel form.. with ineens nt'its outer end providing' e passageway' for the reciprocatory neovonient of va chain or. other flexiblev member,

which at its outer' end is connected with the door and on 1the inner end of seid iiexible connecting ineens there is a spring stopped by said guidingl Ineens for yieldingly checl ing the opening movement of the door, and another spring for withdrawing said Plexible` connection into concealment es the door is being ciosed. x

The foregoing' and other features oit' the invention wili be understood from the uc companying drawings :ind the following description and claims. v. n the drewingsyFi-g. 1 is o horizontal section through :i portion of :zn automobile body showing:` the door and door casing, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is the saine showingr the door open und checked in its opening movement by the Ineens herein provided for that purpose. liig; 3 is en inside eieva.-

tion of the adjacent parts of the right hand door of a vehicle and the door casingr on the 'body of the cur, und showing the door check efmstruetion. ports being broken away und .pzii'ts shown by dotted lines. Fignlt is :l horizontal section on 'the line 1E-4t of 'Fin 2i for the left hund door of the vehicle. Fig'. 5 is the same es Fig. et with the door open. Fig o' is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Figlg. 8 is ve. perspective View of the channel channeied ber member in lthe door casing of the body of the vehicle and parts therein, the side of saith-element shown being that extending townrdhthe outside of the vehicle, and parts being broken away. Fig. 9 is a section like Fig. 4 of a modified, form with the door closed, and Fig. 10 is a similar section with the door open.

In the drawings there is shown e. of :in automobile body, side of 'the body portion 10, door 11, door hinge 1Q, running' board 13, seats 14 and door 15. These ore, and moy be so 'for as this invent-ion .is concerned, of standard forni und construction. .ln carrying out this invention e sheet of metal is punched and bent into the channel mnstruction` 16 shown in Fig. 8. 'The major portion of it is chunnele'd ond at one end thereof there an inturn'ed lip 1'?.v Upwardly end downwardly portion extending iiunges 18 are left unbent with screwholes therein for securing this construction in place in the automobile body.v Horizontaliy bent hinges 19 wider than the horizontal flanges in the main part of the construction the outer end of the structure. Transversely and downwardly entending flanges 2O are provided at the extreme outer end with screws therein for securing' them to the transverse face of 'the door :tra-me of the body of the automobile.

In this chunneil frame lconstruction. 16 there is a relatively weak spiral wire 21 fastened et its inner end to the lip 17 on the channel freine and at the other end to the chain 22 which extends through seid channel frame and between the horizontei plates or tiringes 19 thereof. A stronger spiral wire 23 surrounds the inner end of the chain 2:2 with one end bearing; against the pin 124, which serves as u stop for the spring and it is of `arrester diameter than the distnncebetweeh the two plates 19, as seen in Fig. 8., so thatsaid plates servev as a. stop by engaginga theouter end of the spring 23 and lthus yieldingrly checking the outward movement of the chain 22, when thedoor is opened. Therefore, it is observed that the plates it? as seen in Fig. 8. and between said plates 1 9 there is an anti-friction roller 24 mounteih there appearing theV are provided within are closer together than the sides Aot the mum part of the channei 'trane 16,

Fig t, embedded in on which the door is hinged.

described, is in the nel for the passage of the chain 22 between said roller 2i and the three walls of the channel traine at the flanges or platesli).

The construction shown in inner side ot' the wall of the body ot' the vehicle adjacent the hinged edge of the door. it may be, as shown in the recess 27 channeled out ot' the inner surface of the Vertical wall ot the body in suitable shape to receive this construction and leave the inner wall of the vehicle Hush, as shown by the dotteddoor checking construction, as in Fig. 3, but prei'- erably it is covered by the lining 32 so that the saine wilt be entirely concealed from the view of a person within the vehicle. As seen in Fig. 3 said door checking construct-ion is secured in place by the screws 28 and 29 eX- tending through the plates or flanges '18 and 20. The iianges 2O are embedded in suitable recesses so Ythat they will be flush with the outer edge ot' the'door trarne oi' the rivehicle y The hinges 12 are of the usualtype extending outwardly, as shown in Figs. fi and :'Lso that when the. door is open it' has considerable swine.

rihe outer end of the flexible connection or chain 22 is pivoted by a link 30 to a shortl channel bar 3l embedded in the inner part ot' the door, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. so as to be tiush with the inner surface of. the door and preferably concealed by upholstering or a iiningQ. y

The door checking construction is mounted preferably 'between the upper and lower flanges of the door and operates in the manner shown in Figs. Li and 5. `When the door is closed the springs 2lv and Q3 are retracted and the chain is entirely within the channel frame mounted in the wall of the body ot the vehicle where the parts are covered by the lining ot the body of the vehicle on the door so as to be obscure. v It is rintvisible. from the exterior of the vehicle. `When the door is swung open its connection with the chain 9.2 causes said chain to b'e drawn outward, and this movement will continue until checked by the spring y23 engaging the stop plates 19, vwhich will yieldingly `check the opening movement of the door. The

i weaker spring 2l will then bev stretched, as

shown in Fig. 5.

Vifhen the door is being closed. said spring 2l draws the chain 22 inward. to the position shown in Fig. li. In Fig. 3 the spring 21, while strong enough to withdraw the chain Q2 while the door is being closed. is too weak to close the. door by its own retractive power. f 'The modified form shown in Figs. 9 andi() diiicrs from that .hown figures by the spring 2i being strong enough to close. the door by its own power, an in that event a lock is provided which prevents the withdrawal of the chain 22 and the. closing of the door until the b tton 35 is pressed Fig. 8, thus tar.

'only the chain 'Z2 in the previous atively connected with one outwardly by a person in the vehicle. This lock consists of a ratchet bar 3o connected with the button 35 and slidablc .transversely of the door checking constriuftmn. ltdias inwardly extending teeth. as shown. adapted to enga-ge corresponding ratchet teeth 37 on theinner end ot' the chain 22 and is pressed into, `:ngagelnent with these teeth by the. springT 38 surrounding a pin 35') and adapted to pi the locking construction towards the inside o? the vehicle. Vhen a person in the. car wishes to close the door` instead oi getting out or reaching out oi the vehicle and closing the door by hand. he simply pushes the button 35 into the position shown in Fig. 9 which releasesthe chain 2Q. and the spring V21 not only withdraws the chain l2 but pullsl the door closed. inl this` construction the door checking spring :2- is placed on thc outer end of the chain 22 around the chain inthe channel frame 3l 'fastened to the door. and its ends are stopped by an end plate `IH- on the channel trame fil` and a washer on the end of the chain 3Q.

However. the invention broadly is not limited to either oi' the. two positionsI shown on said spring Q23. its only Jfunction being to yieldingly check the opening movement of the door. ln the modified torm shown in Figs. 9 and l0. the inner end ot the chain 22 is checked by the 'asher 137. which is shown in both forms and which engages the platesI t9 in the second form the same as the outer end of the. spring 23 engages them iu the first form of the invention. f

lt is observed that this door checking construction is concealed trom View, either from the outside on the inside ofthe vehicie while the door is closed. and whent-he door is open appears and it extends diagonally o1c the two wings'ot the hinge when it is open, as shown in Figs. (i and ill and. therefore. relatively 'out ot' thc way ot' persons getting in or out ot the vehicle. That is, it docs not extend beyond the corner of, the door frame and the corner ot the door. Furthermorethe opening movement of thc door is yieldingly checked and the fiexildc. connection Q2 withdrawn automatically when the door is closed,l and it' thetbutton form shown in Figs. 9 and l0 bc employed. the door will be autonmtically closed upon pressing thc button when a person inside the vehicle wishes the door closed. The construction is relatively scli contained as itis practically all within the channel trame it, as shown in Fig. S and can be madeI independeutly of thc vehicle.

The invention claimed is:

i. The combination with `the body of a vehicle and a door hinged thereto. of' a door check including a flexible connection opcr of said vehicle members and reciprocable in the. other ot said Vehicle members,

so that as the door is 'liti eficaces y Y opened said flexible connection will be drawn out of one of said vehicleinembei's, a spiral compression spring surrounding said tlc' ible connection near one end thereof and one of said vehicle members, a stop in's n ivehicle member for engaging said spring for `yieldingly checking the opening more ment ofthe door, and a spi ral tension in one ot' said vehicle drawing and returning such vehicle member movement ot the door. y

2.- 'lhe combination with the body of a vehicle and a door hinged thereto, of a door cheek including a flexible connection opera` tively connected with one of said vehicle members and reciprocable in the other mein bei', so that astlie door is opened said lier:- ible conection will be drawn therefrom, cushion means at one end of said connection tor yieldingly checking the opening movement of the door, and a tension spring for withdrawing said flexible connection of the vehicle during the closing movement of the door.

3. The combination with the body of a vehicle and a door hinged thereto, of a door check including a flexible connection operatively connected with one of' said vehicle membersand reciprocable in the other vehicle member, so that as the door is opened said flexible connection will bey drawn'out of one of said vehicle members, means for stopping the outward 'movement oi said connection,'means in one of said vehicle members for withdrawing and returning' said connection into said vehicle member and closing the door, and releasable means -i'or holding said flexible connection from movement when the door is opened and releasing 1F lin members vtor with said connection into during the closing the same for automatically closing the door.

4. The combination With the body inem- ,y ber o'f a vehicle and a door member hinged thereto, of a door check construction includa lging frame embedded in the inner surface of the one ofsaid members and a connecting member secured to the other member, a spring: in said frame having one end connectedA to the inner end thereof7 a flexible connection in said frame'with its inner end connected with said spring and with its outer end connected ivithsaid connecting member,

means in connection with thel frame for stopping tllcoutivard movementof the fleX- ible connection when` the door is being opened, and acomprcssible spring mounted on said flexible connection for causing said stoppinginovement to be gradual.

5. The combination with the body of a vehicle and a door hinged'l thereto, of a door check construction including a frame inserted in the body, another frame in the door; one of said frames in the body being provided with stop flanges, a flexible connection arranged loosely in said last mentioned frame and at its outer end connected with the other frame, so that as the door is being opened itWill Withdraw said flexible connection, a spring on said flexible connection for causing its stopping movement to be gradual,` and ing said connection, and attached thereto :for 'ii/'ithdrawing and returning the flexible connection into said frame as' the door is being closed. f

(3.'Tlie combination with the body of a vehicle and a door hinged thereto, of a door check including a flexible connection cona spring in the frame containnected with the door" and extending into, y

the body of the vehicle, a spring in the body ci? the vehicle strong enough to Withdraw and return said flexible connection and close the door, means in the body of the vehicle Atru: limiting the outward movement of said lieiiible connection and the opening movenient ofthe door, spring held means Within the body member for engaging the flexible connection when the doorv is open to 'temporarily prevent its return, and a push button for releasing said holding means to permit the yspring to Withdraw said ilexible connection into the the door. v

7. The combination with the body of a vehicle and a door hinged thereto, of a door check construction including a frame in the body of the vehicle, a flexible connection yieldingly connected With' the door and ei:-

body portion and close tending into said frame, a 'spring in said frame strong enough to return said flexible connection and close the door, said dexible connection having ratchet teeth on the outer edge thereof, a bar mounted' transversely in said frame tvith inwardly extending ratchet teeth for engaging the ratchet teeth on the flexible connection, a spring for forcing said ratchet teeth into engagement with each other, and a button on the inside or" the body ofthe vehicle for releasing said ratchet teeth., whereby the door will be automatically closed by said spring, and means on said frame for limiting the outward movement of the flexible connection.

8. The combination with the body of aY vehicle, and a door hinged thereto, of a door check, including a connectionA operatively connected with'one of said vehicle meinbers, means on said connection for-limiting the opening-'movement of said door, yielding means on said connection for closing said door, and means on one of said members for operatively engaging said connection for holding said position and permitting the closing of said door when in thcother position 9. The combination with the body of a vehicle, and a door hinged thereto, of a door check including a connection operatively connected With one of said vvehicle, members and reciprocable in the other ci' said ve-y door open when in one werd movement of Said Connection,

liicle members, so that as the door is opened said ,connection will be drawn out of Said vehicle member, means for stopping the outmeans for normally tending to close said door and withdraw seid connection Within the Aveliiole member, and means mounted upon one of seid vehicle members for engaging said eonnection for permitting said door to remain open when in one position, and Cause said door to be closed and seid connection to be vwithdrawn into the Vehicle body Imember when in the other position.

10. The combination-With the body vmember of a vehicle, and a door member hinged thereto, of a door Check` construction comprising a-ilexible connection having one end connected to one of'saicl members and the other end adapted to vextend into the other Meme member, ineens on seid connection for limiting the opening movement oi". said door, and u spring attached to one end oit said connection and yto seid last mentioned member which will permit the door to remain open, and Withdraw Seid connection when the door .is 'manually closed. v

ll. A door check fore vehicle door having e flexible member for limtingthe opening movement of Said door and adapted to be Withdrawn into the Vehicle upon said door being closed, and means `or normally permitting the door to .remain open, and With drawing said connection when `the doorl is manually closed.

ln witness whereof, l have hereunto ail'- ii-:ed my signature.

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